UPDATE: Smith has since successfully appealed the MPAA for an R-rating.
Kevin Smith shot his first movie, Clerks, in the same convenience store where he worked. Later that year, this low-budget film (it cost less than $30,000 in its entirety) made a big splash at the Sundance Film Festival. The world of View Askew has now grown much larger and the family much bigger, but now Smith is taking a bold step outside his own comfortable box of satirical comedy and pithy dialogue.
Believe it or not, the writer/director/actor has made a dirty film. The flick, Zack and Miri Make a Porno stars up-and-coming comedy star Seth Rogen along with former porn queen Traci Lords. Elizabeth Banks and Justin Long round out the cast. After three tries, the film has been unable to shake the NC-17 rating stated by the Motion Picture Association of America.
Click to continue reading Kevin Smith Talks Porno
MSNBC
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Casting Corner: Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Jennifer Lopez
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Paramount, Yari Film Group Releasing, Adaptation, Drama, Romance, Comedy, Casting, Celeb News, Upcoming Releases,
Here’s a quick look at some of the casting announcements made recently:
Former Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright is currently working with Paramount to bring his next project to the big screen. Wright’s 2004 book, Generation Kill, is currently airing on HBO as a mini-series. Now Evan has signed a deal to adapt something he is still writing.
Cocaine Cowboys - not to be confused with the 2006 documentary by the same name - will tell the story of Jon Roberts, a real-life drug trafficker who wound up working with the Medellin drug cartel. Interestingly enough, Mark Wahlberg has signed on to star and co-produce the adaptation. Those familiar with Entourage - a show Mark created - may remember that Vincent Chase fought hard to get the lead role in the movie Medellin.
Director Peter Berg (Hancock) has been tapped to helm the project.
Click to continue reading Casting Corner: Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Jennifer Lopez
Variety
Keira Knightley Takes a Stand Against Photoshop
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Paramount, Adventure, Drama, Foreign, Period, Political, Romance, Box Office, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Distribution, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
Despite past alterations of her breasts for publicity, Pirates of the Caribbean beauty Keira Knightley has finally put her foot down about the issue for her upcoming film.
Back in 2004, promotional posters for her film King Arthur raised her eyebrows as they appeared as if she had received an enlargement procedure she did not recall. “Those things certainly weren’t mine,” she said in a 2006 interview, despite the fact that upon her approval, she had told marketing, “OK, fine. I honestly don’t give a s—-.”
This time around, Knightley isn’t as disinterested about her chest in The Duchess. Instead, she has told studio executives that she refuses to have her physique altered in any way for promotional purposes. Kudos to Keira for sticking up for those who aren’t as gifted as most celebrities nowadays!
What’s sad is the fact that she has to fight. Gotta love a society that has to enlarge a woman’s bosom in order to bump up ticket sales, eh?
New York Daily News
W. Trailer Hits the Internet
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Lionsgate, Drama, Political, Casting, Trailers,
The United States of America, to date, has had forty-three different men at the helm of control. The first to hold the highest office in the land - President - was a war hero named George. The most current incumbent to celebrate this role is also (albeit somewhat dubiously) a war hero named George.
And I happen to be one of those who believe this current George will have far more historical significance than even his very first predecessor. Thanks to a director/filmmaker named Oliver Stone, President George W. Bush will secure at least a place in cinematic history by virtue of Stone’s new biopic on the man, dubbed simply W..
One letter that somehow says so much. Stone has publicly said the movie will be a “fair, true portrait” of Dubya’s Presidency. Several Bush biographers looked over Stone’s script before production began, each agreeing that certain facts depicted in the film (including a drunken fistfight between Dubya and his famous daddy) are in fact true, as is Karl Rove’s supposed White House nickname “Turdblossom.”
Click to continue reading W. Trailer Hits the Internet
AOL
Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Hits $300 Million
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: 20th Century Fox, Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Drama, Family, Musicals, Romance, Science Fiction, Sequels, Comedy, Box Office, Lists, New Releases,
Despite the combined forces of Ferrell/Reilly and Duchovny/Anderson, Team Bale/Ledger could not be slowed down.
This past week, The Dark Knight added a few more records to the franchise’s box office mantle:
- The film became the fastest movie ever to surpass the $300 million mark. (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest crossed that line in 16 days; Knight did it in 10.)
- The sequel is now predicted to break $400 million in approximately 18 days. Shrek 2 took 43 days to the same in 2004.
- IMAX theaters also continue to benefit from the blockbuster’s success. Another $4.6 million was grossed over the weekend.
- It’s now believed the latest Batman installment could soar to $500 million - making it only the second movie to do so. Domestically, Titanic ($601 million) still reigns as the box office champ. (The original Star Wars pocketed $461 million while Shrek 2 earned $436 million.)
Click to continue reading Box Office Breakdown: The Dark Knight Hits $300 Million
Variety
Snyder Pleases Fans at Comic-Con With Additional Watchmen Footage
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Paramount, Warner Bros, Action, Adaptation, Adventure, Classics, Horror, Noir, Political, Romance, Science Fiction, Thrillers, Distribution, Filmmaking, Rumors, Trailers, Upcoming Releases,
Continuing to update you on everything Watchmen related, we’ve got the news from San Diego this past weekend.
Absolutely everyone and their mother were talking about Watchmen after Comic-Con, drooling over the eight new posters revealed, as well as an extended trailer.
One of the last shots of the trailer, that which depicts Mr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) blowing up enemy soldiers, is more gore-happy detailed. The trailer also included quick shots of the Comedian’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) scar origins as well as Laurie (Malin Akerman) unzipping her costume…
“People are starting to realize that superhero movies don’t just exist as mindless entertainment. They talk about stuff that’s serious,” director Zack Snyder commented in reference to The Dark Knight. And that’s exactly why we love you and Nolan, Mr. Snyder!
Click to continue reading Snyder Pleases Fans at Comic-Con With Additional Watchmen Footage
E! Online
Listen to Paris Hilton Sing in Repo!
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Adaptation, Musicals, Science Fiction, Trailers,
Even though we showed you a trailer for Repo! The Genetic Opera earlier this month, we know this is what you’ve really been waiting for.
Have you been wondering if Paris Hilton’s vocals could stretch beyond ‘Stars Are Blind’ territory? Were you curious to know how limited her dancing skills were? Well - in this new clip, you have your chance to find out.
Repo! The Genetic Opera blares into theaters on November 7th.
Transformers 2 Delayed Due to LaBeouf’s Arrest
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: DreamWorks, Paramount, Action, Adaptation, Science Fiction, Sequels, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip,
UPDATE: It looks as if Shia may not may not be blamed for the accident after all.
As mentioned on VIP Breakdown earlier today, actor Shia LaBeouf was arrested Sunday morning after a DUI-related accident in Los Angeles.
The 22-year-old was taken to Cedars-Sinai around 3 a.m. where he underwent surgery for injuries to his left hand. (He also received minor injuries to his head and knee.) A female passenger from his car and the female driver from the other vehicle were treated and released. (Video of LaBeouf’s overturned vehicle can be seen after the jump.)
In a statement, the star’s rep said Shia’s status would prevent him from immediately returning to work:
“Attorneys for Mr. LaBeouf confirm that an automobile accident involving an additional party occurred early morning in Los Angeles on July 27, 2008. Shia is currently recovering from extensive hand surgery with plans to return to work on the set of Transformers 2 within one month. No further comment will be issued at this time.”
Click to continue reading Transformers 2 Delayed Due to LaBeouf’s Arrest
E! Online
Pineapple Express Meets Disinterest at Comic-Con
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: Columbia Pictures, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Box Office, Rumors, Upcoming Releases,
While it never appears to be a good sign when at least a third of an audience leaves prior to one’s panel at Comic-Con, I am definitely rooting for Pineapple Express when it hits theaters in a couple weeks!
As depressing as that can be for anyone at such a hyped event, I would venture to say that Judd Apatow‘s latest project failed to meet success at the event due to misplacement. I mean, promoting a stoner movie to die-hard comic book fans? These are audiences who went crazy last year over The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk, and this year with Watchmen—not exactly the type whose favorite movies include Dazed and Confused or Dude, Where’s My Car?.
Click to continue reading Pineapple Express Meets Disinterest at Comic-Con
E! Online
MTV Seeks Rocky Horror Remake
Posted by Robin Paulson Categories: 20th Century Fox, Classics, Horror, Music, Musicals, Romance, Science Fiction, Comedy, Casting, Filmmaking, Rumors, Scripts, Upcoming Releases,
Yes, you unfortunately read that title correctly: MTV is seriously planning to remake the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
While I cannot deny how popular musicals have become (i.e. Mamma Mia!, High School Musical, Hairspray), are there not already tons of other musicals to tamper with other than this one? Can producers possibly more cold-hearted than I thought?
On the upside (yes, there’s actually an upside) to this, the executive producer of the original, Lou Adler, is attached to the project, along with BermanBraun and Fox Television Studios. They also plan on using the original screenplay (thankfully!); however, they may incorporate songs not included in the original (what?).
Click to continue reading MTV Seeks Rocky Horror Remake
Variety
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